The 2020 National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama has joined the Wala traditional area of the Upper West region to mark the 2019 Damba Festival.
The Damba festival is celebrated by chiefs and peoples of Nalerigu, Tamale and Wa in the Northern Region and Upper West Region of Ghana.
It is the most important or widely celebrated festival of the Dagombas/Dagbamba, which has spread to other stratified northern societies such as Mamprusis, Nanumbas and Gonjas – and also to the Walas in the Upper West region, which is called “Dumba”
According to artsghana, Damba festival is an ancient celebration of the Dagamba of Northern Ghana and brought along from Zamfara in the North of Nigeria into Dagbon in the first quarter of the 18th Century during the rign of Naa Zangina.
Festivities take place on the 11th, 17th and 18th days of the Damba month (moon) that is the third month of the Dagbamba calendar (lunan in calendar).
The festival is an occasion for most people to purchase new clothes and gifts, as everyone wants to be dressed as beautifully as he or she can be.
The males dress in colourful, hand woven smocks that are designed for dancing while women wear traditional hand woven cloth wrapped around their waists and expensive jewelry.
It also an occasion for feasting, exchanging gifts, shooting of muskets and display of warrior dance and war exploits or mimicry of war motifs.
It also serves as training grounds for the youth and eventual display of bravery and splendor (Madam Fuseini Wumbei).
There is a display of horsemanship skills while people celebrate chieftaincy.
Here are some pictures
